Ford Invests $1B in Chicago Assembly and Stamping Plants
Photo: Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company has announced a $1 billion investment in its Chicago Assembly and Stamping Plants, which will facilitate the production of the new Ford Explorer, Ford Police Interceptor Utility, and Lincoln Aviator. Plant transformation efforts are set to get underway in March will result in the addition of 500 full-time jobs, bringing the total number of people employed at Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping to roughly 5,800.
Photo: Ford Motor Company
“As Chicago continues to strengthen our diverse economy, Ford’s commitment to add 500 jobs and infuse nearly a billion dollars into their Southeast Side assembly plant is a vote of confidence in our people and our future,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who was on-hand at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show for the announcement. “The assembly plant is a local and regional economic engine where iconic American brands like the Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer are built. This investment is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of Chicago’s manufacturing sector, and I look forward to Ford’s presence in our city for generations to come.”
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Chicago Assembly, Ford’s longest continually operating vehicle plant, will add an all-new body shop and paint shop as well as significant upgrades to the final assembly area. Chicago Stamping will add new stamping lines. Both plants will share $40 million in employee-focused upgrades including new LED lighting, improved break areas and cafeterias, and improved parking lot security.
The 2020 Ford Explorer was announced in January and will become the most advanced, powerful, and capable Explorer ever put to the road. New to the lineup are the Explorer ST, which features a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost engine, and the Explorer Hybrid, which is anticipated to deliver a total driving range of more than 500 miles.
The 2020 Police Interceptor Utility will be one of the fastest pursuit-rated police vehicles on the road even with standard hybrid all-wheel drive, which is expected to deliver a 41 percent improvement in city fuel economy and save a considerable amount in fuel costs.
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Photos: Chicago Assembly and Stamping in Action
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